Station fight ends in death

A BOARD member of a community radio station in the Free State was shot and killed, allegedly by the fired station manager.

Former station manager Gift Phoofolo is out on R3 000 bail after he was arrested and charged with the murder of board member Lesiea Makobane.

Naledi FM in Senekal, in the eastern Free State, is now left without a board after members quit following Makobane’s death three weeks ago.

Senekal police spokesman Captain Phumelelo Dlamini said it happened on the night of October 27.

Makobane was shot once in the chest and died instantly.

Dlamini said Phoofolo was arrested after it emerged that he had made death treats against the board member in September.

According to Dlamini, the station had been having internal problems and had called for police intervention before.

It is alleged that Phoofolo threatened Makobane during a board meeting in full view of other board members.

David Sekonyela, the chairman and only remaining board member, said:

Prior to this, we were poisoned at gunpoint by intruders at the offices of the station. They forced us to drink a cold drink that was laced with poison.

We as the board had sent Phoofolo a letter of dismissal, but he continued to work at the station saying we didn’t follow the proper procedures in his dismissal,” Sekonyela said, adding that Makobane had handled the matter.

This comes after another radio station in the Free State was gutted recently.

Karabo FM in Sasolburg was burnt down in September after a local ANC councillor appeared on one of its shows and accused the mayor of corruption.

Malefane Msimanga accused Metsimaholo municipality mayor Brutus Mahlaku of, among other things, abusing his council-issued credit card on liquor.

Pule Nkomo told Sunday World in an exclusive interview that he was responsible for the arson. Nkomo said he was promised R18 000 by Mahlaku if he committed the crime but claimed the mayor had reneged on his promise to pay him.

Mahlaku has denied all allegations against him.

Nkomo was arrested and is now out on R5 000 bail.